Lake Mutanda: For canoe trekking and bird watching and more!

Generally taken to be the most stunning fresh water body in Uganda, Lake Mutanda is one of the great places you cannot miss to visit during your time in the crowned "Pearl of Africa". Lake Mutanda is conveniently located just about 6 kilometers and 20 minutes drive from the nearby south western Uganda town of Kisoro. To reach Lake Mutanda from Kampala, it takes about 8-9 hours drive, about 1.5 hours drive from Kabale town and 30 minutes drive from the Rwandan boarder of Cyanika.

The lake has the perfect natural location since it lies at the periphery of Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national parks, which are home to the engendered mountain gorillas. Many travelers who visit the region for mountain gorilla trekking end-up adding a day or two to their itinerary in order to explore the beauty of the lake.

As an expert in local travel, Bamboo Ecotours organizes both half day and full day trips to the lake at inexpensive prices. The activities that we have in place include dug-out canoe trekking, hiking and many other options. Swimming is also permitted in the lake since the water is Bilharzia free. We also arrange community walks into the nearby villages to give you a chance to learn about the local way of life such as the farming practices and culture. All our tour prices include an English speaking tour guide but excludes transport coverage. There is a 10% discount on groups of 5 and more!

Dug-out canoe

The dug-out canoe in use

Sunset Canoe CruiseDuration: 1 hour Price: USD$10 per person Start Time: 5:30pm Soak up the evening atmosphere of this stunning lake. Experience the sights and sounds of the evening as the birds fly to their night roosts.

Otter and Historical Island TourDuration: 4 hours Price: USD$20 per person Start Time: 7:00amOur most popular canoe tour offers a relaxing early-morning canoe ride to visit the otters, and paddle around a historical island while also indulging in some birdwatching. The trip offers fantastic views of the Virunga Volcanoes Range, in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two Island Birdwatching TourDuration: 4 hours Price: USD$20 per person Start Time: 7:00am For bird lovers, this tour takes you around two islands that are famous for birdwatching. Add to your list of rare birds and enjoy great views of the lake, the Virunga Volcanoes and the agricultural land surrounding the lake.

Hiking

Photo taken from the view point hike

Natural TrailDuration: 2 hours Price: USD$15 per person Difficulty: easySee local nature get an understanding of the land use in the area. Walk through the farming landscape, see the swamp and possibly catch sight of a python!Peninsula, Local Agriculture, and Village TourDuration: 4 hours Price: USD$20 per person Difficulty: moderateStart Time: morning/afternoonOur most popular hike provides you an overview of local agricultural practices, and up to an elevated peninsula that offers panoramic views of the lake and of the Virunga Volcanoes. Finish the tour by learning about local culture at a lakeside village. Viewpoint hikeDuration: 4 hours Price: USD$20 per person Difficulty: strenuous Start Time: morning/afternoonHead up onto the hilltops to get an unparalleled view of the lake and surrounding mountains and scenery. The walk leads you through farmland, villages and some wildlife areas to give you a variety of experiences.

Other options

Let's go fishing

Local Fishing ExperienceDuration: 2 hours Price: USD$15 pp Start Time: anytimeGet an in-depth understanding of local fishing practices and the ecological challenges that the lake faces. Test your skills at using a local fishing pole. MUtanda Eco Community Centre is happy to cook any fish that you catch. Snakes, Caves and Cultural Experiences Duration: 2 hours Price: USD$15 pp Start Time: morning recommendedWe can also tailor tours around your personal interests. The options include visits to local caves, village and school experiences and wildlife watching including a python snake safari! Prices are similar to our other activities. Please just ask and we can help organise your ideal trip!

Featured video: The songs of nature in
the wetlands of Lake Mutanda. Take a minute, watch and
listen to the video

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client reviews

"Bamboo Ecotours is an extremely professional, conscientious service dedicated to excellence in tourism and devoted to protectingand caring for the beautiful region of southern Uganda" - Diane, UK.

"We went with them [Bamboo Ecotours] on the coffee tour and the village tour, and I can recommend both..when we went up to the view point, Joseph [guide] did really every thing he could to show us and learn us things about his country" - Berenice, Spain

"An absolute must visit! Exciting moment seeing gorillas at a close range+ unique cultural dances! Great people with a 'at-your-service' culture. Highly responsive and ready to serve! Highly recommend" - Natasha, USA